In a surprising turn of events, Brazilian esports titan paiN Gaming has decided to bench two key players from its Counter-Strike 2 roster, marking a significant shift for the team. This move comes on the heels of their less-than-stellar performance at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, where the team exited at Stage 3, falling short of qualifying for the playoffs. With the esports landscape continuously evolving, paiN Gaming is gearing up for a strategic overhaul to reclaim its glory.
Challenges and Setbacks
Despite a promising start to the year with a top-four finish at the BLAST.tv Austin Major, paiN Gaming has faced hurdles in maintaining its competitive edge. Their inability to qualify for the BLAST Open London playoffs, coupled with early exits from key tournaments like IEM Cologne 2025 and IEM Chengdu 2025, saw the team slip in the Valve Regional Standings. December’s rankings placed them 15th globally, a dip from their peak position of 11th back in February. **This downward trajectory has urged paiN Gaming to make decisive changes to its player lineup.**
Looking Ahead
With the departure of David ‘dav1deuS’ Tapia and Franco ‘dgt’ Garcia, paiN Gaming is on the hunt for fresh talent to invigorate its roster. The organization aims to rebuild and bounce back stronger for the upcoming 2026 season, which kicks off with the BLAST Bounty Winter from January 13th to 28th. As the esports community anticipates the new season, all eyes are on paiN Gaming’s next moves and their potential rise back to prominence.